Help Hotmail issues on my Droid

[jayes]

Newbie here and REALLY appreciate the wealth of information here.

Now I've got a question and hope someone can help.

My Hotmail is flakey. It just does not work like I expected. I've asked tech support at Verizon for input, but the cs reps are not that well versed in Hotmail issues and really did not have a definitive answer other than it's probably a Hotmail issue.

Issue: Sometimes the "download mail" icon will just whirl around minutes at a time, but never download my new messages.

Some suggestions offered by others on the forums include shutting down the phone and turning it back on (that works pretty much all the time) and only downloading while 3G is on, rather than internet.

I understand that Google, Motorola and Verizon are pushing gmail, but I would think that Hotmail has enough of a following that keeping us happy would be somewhat of a priority too.

Am I the only one having issues... and are there some foolproof ways of keeping my Hotmail updated? This is not a business related phone so my daily life does not depend on immediate incoming mail, but it is an annoyance. I have resorted to going to www.hotmail.com on the browser to pick up my mail several times. I'd prefer to use the email app for ease.

I have two other accounts.. both Cox, and they appear to have the same issues, though the mail coming into those accounts are so few it's hard to assess. I have all my gmail forwarded to my Hotmail account, but I don't think that's part of the problem.

Thanks for your help and suggstions.

 

[messenger13]

I understand that Google, Motorola and Verizon are pushing gmail, but I would think that Hotmail has enough of a following that keeping us happy would be somewhat of a priority too.

Let me just say that we'll have to respectfully agree to disagree here. Google cares enough to support POP3 mail in Android. But I don't think they give 2 hoots about Hotmail. Last time I checked, the enemy owned that service.

Having said that, are you 100% sure that you have your account settings correct? I have a Gmail account, an Exchange account, and FOUR other POP3 accounts (2 separate providers) on my DROID, and I don't miss a single email ever (WiFi or 3G).


Hotmail Settings
Incoming Settings

• POP3 server: pop3.live.com
• port: 995
• Security type: pretty sure you want SSL, but experiment

Outgoing Settings

• SMTP server: smtp.live.com
• port: 25
• Security type: SSL
  Check "require sign-in"

I know the port parameters are correct, but you might want to play with the incoming security parameter.

 

[jayes]

Let me just say that we'll have to respectfully agree to disagree here. Google cares enough to support POP3 mail in Android. But I don't think they give 2 hoots about Hotmail. Last time I checked, the enemy owned that service.

I was just trying to be nice. I'm sure you're right. They don't give 2 (or even 1) hoot about Hotmail service.

I am assuming my Hotmail is set up correctly, or it would not work at all. Problems are intermittent. Sometimes it works flawlessly. Sometimes it hangs. I would think settings like port etc are either right.. or wrong. My son has a Droid and Hotmail and complains of the same issues. He's the first one to tell me to turn the phone off and on to force mail to download. So that's at least two of us.

I set up my Hotmail using parameters someone posted on this forum. The outgoing mail port does not match Messenger13 suggestions. I also used TSL.. SSL did not work for outgoing mail.

HOTMAIL POP3

Incoming POP3 Mail ServerSetting :
User Name : user@hotmail.com
Password : your email password
Incoming Mail Server : pop3.live.com
Mail Box Name : Hotmail POP3
Mail Box Type : POP3
Security (Port) : SSL
Port : 995

Outgoing POP3 Mail ServerSetting :
Email Address : user@hotmail.com
User Name : user@hotmail.com
Password : your email password
Outgoing Mail Server : smtp.live.com
Security (Port) : SSL/TLS
Port : 587

Can these settings have variables for different phones? Seems like it should be the same.

 

[messenger13]

Can these settings have variables for different phones? Seems like it should be the same.

No, the settings should be the same.

I have seen security settings give an email client fits though. That's the first thing I experiment with when things are acting weird.

One last thing, when you are in the account settings page and tap on "Incoming settings", at the bottom of that page click on "Next". I'm assuming that it contacts your server with no error, correct?

 

[jayes]

Yes... clicking next> does NOT give an error when I use these settings so I assume they are correct. Both incoming and outgoing work... at least some of the time. My issue is with the interittent issues. Seems to me that if it works and it set up correctly, it should work ALL THE TIME, not just some of the time.

Outgoing POP3 Mail ServerSetting :
Email Address : user@hotmail.com
User Name : user@hotmail.com
Password : your email password
Outgoing Mail Server : smtp.live.com
Security (Port) : SSL/TLS
Port : 587

 

[DjSmooth]

I was just trying to be nice. I'm sure you're right. They don't give 2 (or even 1) hoot about Hotmail service.

I am assuming my Hotmail is set up correctly, or it would not work at all. Problems are intermittent. Sometimes it works flawlessly. Sometimes it hangs. I would think settings like port etc are either right.. or wrong. My son has a Droid and Hotmail and complains of the same issues. He's the first one to tell me to turn the phone off and on to force mail to download. So that's at least two of us.

I set up my Hotmail using parameters someone posted on this forum. The outgoing mail port does not match Messenger13 suggestions. I also used TSL.. SSL did not work for outgoing mail.

HOTMAIL POP3

Incoming POP3 Mail ServerSetting :
User Name : user@hotmail.com
Password : your email password
Incoming Mail Server : pop3.live.com
Mail Box Name : Hotmail POP3
Mail Box Type : POP3
Security (Port) : SSL
Port : 995

Outgoing POP3 Mail ServerSetting :
Email Address : user@hotmail.com
User Name : user@hotmail.com
Password : your email password
Outgoing Mail Server : smtp.live.com
Security (Port) : SSL/TLS
Port : 587

Can these settings have variables for different phones? Seems like it should be the same.

I have all my gmail forwarded to my Hotmail account, but I don't think that's part of the problem.

You know if all else (other Pop3 accounts) you can go into your gmail settings and setup your POP3 accounts in gmail under various Labels.

But now, as for your settings (I have MSN) and my settings are the same and although my check for new mail is set for 15, there are times that I don't get it until I open the email client then it began the download process. And I've noticed the other POP3 accounts acts the same way.

So I guess there is some work needed to be done on the Android and POP3 mail...

 

[winghunter]

You're not the only one, I also have major issues with the email. Bad part is my work email (companyname.net) with office live is not an option to change, it sucks. If I go to incoming settings and hit next most time it will force close then I can hit next again and it will connect and pull in my mail, it is a royal pain in the butt. Love the phone but if it's not fixed in the January OTA update i'm afaid the phone will have to go, missing work emails for hours at a time is not acceptable to my boss.

 

[kbayer]

I have a hotmail account and excluding the Droid as a variable, I've been having trouble just connecting from even my home computer in general. May be an issue on msn's side of the fence...

 

[whatawuss]

hi jayes, that's a bit weird. i have exactly the same problem as you describe, except the couple of times i've tried to check "incoming settings"->next, while this is happening, that spins forever, too.

i agree, this whole thing is pretty frustrating. i'm also worried that it's burning power constantly while it's spinning.

my primary personal email is gmail, but i do use hotmail for non-close friends, craigslist posts etc. and while google probably gives a rat's ass about this, this is a motorola phone and motorola should be on the hook to fix it. or at least look at it.

Yes... clicking next> does NOT give an error when I use these settings so I assume they are correct. Both incoming and outgoing work... at least some of the time. My issue is with the interittent issues. Seems to me that if it works and it set up correctly, it should work ALL THE TIME, not just some of the time.

Outgoing POP3 Mail ServerSetting :
Email Address : user@hotmail.com
User Name : user@hotmail.com
Password : your email password
Outgoing Mail Server : smtp.live.com
Security (Port) : SSL/TLS
Port : 587

 

[whatawuss]

thanks for the suggestion! i played around with this setting like you suggested. switching it to TLS got a "setup could not finish - unable to open connection to server" error. however, when i switched to "SSL (Accept all certificates)" it seems to be working. the spinning stops and my mail is getting refreshed.

of course, this could just be the intermittent problem going away...only time will tell.

thanks!


ps perhaps someone could enlighten me as to what the difference between "SSL" and "SSL (Accept all certificates)" is? is the latter less secure in some way?

I know the port parameters are correct, but you might want to play with the incoming security parameter.

 

[jayes]

In the one week I have had the phone, I admit I have contemplated (for a very few seconds!) switching over to a gmail account, but I'm stubborn. The thought that I HAVE to make a switch because Google is controllling the functionality of my email makes me stick it out and hope for the best. While Google might not care that the rest of the world is having issues with their non-gmail accounts, it can't be good for the Android platform to have people complaining about mail service. Maybe I'm wrong and we're just a blip on the radar. But Verizon and Motorola should have a vested interest in keeping all their customers happy.

A funny aside... when I went into Verizon on day two of my Droid ownership because I was having some calendar issues, the Verizon tech googled the problem and ended up quoting from this forum. No one in tech support could answer my question. So now I come here first!

 

[jayes]

thanks for the suggestion! i played around with this setting like you suggested. switching it to TLS got a "setup could not finish - unable to open connection to server" error. however, when i switched to "SSL (Accept all certificates)" it seems to be working. the spinning stops and my mail is getting refreshed.

of course, this could just be the intermittent problem going away...only time will tell.

thanks!


ps perhaps someone could enlighten me as to what the difference between "SSL" and "SSL (Accept all certificates)" is? is the latter less secure in some way?

Bizarre! I just checked my hotmail settings for outgoing mail and tried changing it to SSL (accept all certificates) and it will NOT complete set up. Says there are errors. Put it back to TSL and it works again. How can Hotmail setup be different on two phones?

 

[whatawuss]

hey jayes, i was mucking with the incoming settings, not the outgoing ones. can you try what you just said with the incoming settings? thanks!

Bizarre! I just checked my hotmail settings for outgoing mail and tried changing it to SSL (accept all certificates) and it will NOT complete set up. Says there are errors. Put it back to TSL and it works again. How can Hotmail setup be different on two phones?

 

[jayes]

hey jayes, i was mucking with the incoming settings, not the outgoing ones. can you try what you just said with the incoming settings? thanks!

My incoming settings are

Port 995 and Security type is SSL.

It DID let me change it to SSL (Accept all certificates). I have NO idea what that means. I am a lemming when it comes to these things. So incoming works with either setting... SSL or SSL (accept all certificates) Can someone tell us what the difference is betwen these two settings and why either work?

 

[whatawuss]

thanks for giving that a spin. i guess it looks like yours works with both SSL settings whereas mine only seems to stop spinning on the "accept all" setting.

like you said, weird!

yes, if someone could enlighten us and/or come up with any possible explanations, that'd be great!

My incoming settings are

Port 995 and Security type is SSL.

It DID let me change it to SSL (Accept all certificates). I have NO idea what that means. I am a lemming when it comes to these things. So incoming works with either setting... SSL or SSL (accept all certificates) Can someone tell us what the difference is betwen these two settings and why either work?

 

[jayes]

The "spinning" I am experiencing is on the page that lists my email. I have also had similar issues with outgoing mail. I click "SEND MESSAGES" and nothing happens. I know it's supposed to SEND my outgoing mail. A few minutes later, the mail is gone and I see a copy in the sent folder so it does eventually get sent. On another occasion, I click "SEND MESSAGES" and they go immediately. Again, this inconsistency is driving me nuts!

 

[magnus]

I've had the exact same problem with the Email app and Hotmail......so then I set up my google account to import messages from hotmail and get it through the gmail app.

No complaints yet.....but I get my mail about 15 mins late....but that's okay for me...but I don't use my phone for business.

I'm going to try K9 mail soon though to see if the mail application is any better.

 

[mbrew]

This issue is the reason I got on this forum. Sometimes Hotmail works fine, sometime it does not. I tried to send an email with a pic attachment yesterday and this morning it was still "spinning". I will play with the security settings to see if that helps. If not, I may be sending everything to the gmail account.

Can anyone tell me if it is better to set up the hotmail forward to Gmail on a computer as opposed to doing it on the Droid?

 

[inphoenix]

I'm going to try K9 mail soon though to see if the mail application is any better.

K9 works better than phone's app and it will support hotmail as well. But I still get false alarms on my hotmail once in a while.

If you haven't 'starred' this issue on Google's codesite, please do so. They will get feedback this way.

Issue 1507 - android - Email app doesn't delete emails on POP3 server and doesn't mark them as read - Project Hosting on Google Code

Please share this link in other forums/threads.

 

[Yappy]

Hello there

I'm new to Android, using the HTC Hero on Orange. Glad I found your site, loads on here for me to have a nose through!

However, I do have a problem! My hotmail.com email works just dandy using the POP3 - I simply put in my email address and my password and it picked up all the server details itself.

Not so with my Live.co.uk account!!!

My Incoming server details are as you guys suggested:
POP3 server: pop3.live.com
port: 995
Security type: pretty sure you want SSL, but experiment

It goes through to the Outgoing Settings no problems. The problem occurs when I enter the Outgoing settings. I've tried the setting's you guys suggested:

• SMTP server: smtp.live.com
• port: 25
• Security type: SSL
  Check "require sign-in" #

The green 'wheel' spins for a bit before I get a Warning! "Cannot connect to the mail server to verify you account information. Your server is not responding." Have any of you come accross this before? Any solution to this pull-my-hair out problem?

Thank you!!!